(a) whether the Government proposes to provide safe and pure Drinking water by installing R.O
machines in all the schools of the country;
(b) if so, the time by which this proposal is likely to be implemented; and
(c) if not, the reasons therefor?
(a) whether the Government proposes to provide safe and pure Drinking water by installing R.O
machines in all the schools of the country;
(b) if so, the time by which this proposal is likely to be implemented; and
(c) if not, the reasons therefor?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI UPENDRA KUSHWAHA)
(a) to (c) There is no specific proposal for installing R.O. machines in all the schools of the
country. However, the provision of safe and adequate drinking water facility in elementary Schools is
mandatory under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009. All States
and UTs have been advised to ensure compliance of this provision of the RTE Act, 2009.
The Department of School Education and Literacy has formulated an Integrated Scheme for
School Education – Samagra Shiksha, which subsumes the Centrally Sponsored Schemes of Sarva
Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) and Teacher Education
(TE). Samagra Shiksha effective from 1st April, 2018 supports States and UTs for strengthening of
existing government schools, and for creation and augmentation of infrastructure facilities including
drinking water facility, based on the gaps determined from Unified District Information System for
Education (UDISE) and proposals received from respective State/UT.
Under the erstwhile scheme of SSA, till 31.03.2018, 2.42 lakh drinking water facilities in
Government elementary schools were sanctioned, out of which States and UTs have reported provision
of 2.35 lakh drinking water facilities. Under the erstwhile scheme of RMSA, till 31.03.2018, 11,864
drinking water facilities in Government secondary schools were sanctioned, out of which States and
UTs have reported provision of 10,059 drinking water facilities.
Infrastructure facilities including safe drinking water facilities in Government schools are also
provided in convergence with other schemes/programmes of Central and State Governments. The
Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation provides technical and financial assistance to States under
National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) for supplementing their efforts in providing safe
drinking water supply in rural areas including schools. The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has advised the
Panchayati Raj Departments of all States in March, 2016 to include inter alia the provision of drinking
water supply systems in schools and regular repair of drinking water systems in schools, while
preparing Gram Panchayat Development Plans for using Fourteenth Finance Commission grants.
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